Monday, 26 May 2008

I visited the Government Employment Agencies, to ascertain facts. The only positive thing was the courteous employees. 80% Jobs reservation is a toothless policy. Private companies in particular, don’t find Government subsidies attractive & favour Non-Goans. Are our corrupt politicians & bureaucrats, facilitating the latter?

Before our wise politicians & so called experts criticize us, for opposing industries (detrimental to Goan Interests). I suggest (1) They look at the current employment policy in place/implementation (2) Study the neighbouring states policies, which favour’s locals e.g. Maharashtra’s recent update on April 24th 2008.

The NRI office’s Overseas Employment Agency, helps Goans for Jobs overseas. Surely, the priority is to stop demographic reduction, by offering Goans suitable opportunities in Goa itself or facilitating return of Non-Residents. Contrary to the common view, there are Non Resident Goan’s eager to return to Goa and are looking for suitable employment opportunities; even in the Private Sector.

I suggest (1) The Employment Exchange be transparent in all jobs available (public & private sector); by managing a easily accessible professional website (2) The Government reviews minimum wages by sector, for a valid wage increase; which will enable Goans to afford a satisfactory lifestyle in Goa. (3) Start from a zero base; study the entire employment policy in detail; find out what it actually is; should it be revamped; implement/improve good aspects already in place. (4) Setup a Professional Task Force to agree & implement a NEW water-tight employment policy (5) An online summary reporting system, showing facts of implementation by sector; of the New Employment Policy, favouring 80% job reservations for All Goans (Resident & Non Residents)

This proposal is given to Government and the Opposition in the assembly.

Q: Why are you against the migrant influx?A: Goa is tiny, with a finite carrying capacity and we are alreadysaturated. The Goan population is extremely small compared to othercommunities in India. We cannot withstand the current high inflow ofmigrants. It will lead to severe civic, social and economic disturbance,will obliterate our Goan Identity, will turn Goa into an unpleasant hovellike other urban Indian areas.

Q: What kind of migrant influx are you against?A: I am against the current indiscriminate influx of unskilled as wellas rich migrants.

Q: The poor migrants come here to make a living. Aren?t youbeing anti-poor by opposing them?A: No. Everyone wants to build a better future for himself. But Goadoes not have the capacity to absorb India?s limitless poor. Neithershould Goa pay the price for the failures of rest of the Indian states toimprove their living standards. Importing poverty into Goa will end updragging Goa down the drain. Besides, we have our own Goan poor thatwe need to take care of first.

Q: The constitution guarantees freedom to settle down anywherewithin India. How can you prevent people from coming withoutviolating their rights?A: (a) Goa is a dot, area-wise and population-wise. Any one districtof Karnataka or Bihar is larger than Goa. Even if a tiny fraction of thepeople from these states decided to move into Goa, we are sunk. Freemovement into Goa will obliterate us culturally, not to mention createcivic strife and other problems. We cannot be passive spectators at thisdemographic warfare waged against us. So the ?constitutional?argument does not hold water. (b) Goa was not part of the Constituent Assembly and had no sayin the drafting of the Indian constitution. No safeguards were put inplace in 1961. The constitution exists in order to serve people andsociety, not the other way round. Therefore, if it has to be amended toaccommodate the wishes of the Goan people, so be it. Other states -Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Northeast states - have special provisionsand protections to preserve their interests. Why shouldn?t we enjoy thesame? (c) Goa is the last surviving haven of the pleasant life left in India.We must do everything possible to keep it that way. We have before usIndia?s abysmal record of turning good places into unlivable hell. Whatwere once pleasant retreats ? Pune, Bangalore, Ooty, Simla etc ? aretoday polluted, crowded, squalid concrete nightmares.

Q: Why are migrants a problem now?A: Because of the steep rise in their numbers and the rate of influx.The construction & tourism boom and the international exposure haveattracted people in droves. Access to Goa is now easy. Scores of flightscome in everyday and new railway lines bring in migrants by thehundreds. Earlier, unskilled migrants came from Karnataka andMaharashtra. Now they come from all over: Bihar, Jharkhand, UP,Chhattisgarh, Orissa, W Bengal, Rajasthan, AP, MP, even Nepal.

Q: But Goans need migrants to do their chores, don?t they?A: Partly true. But also true is that today we have far greaternumbers of migrants than are actually needed. Because Goa is anattractive place, with better daily wages, migrants from all over India areheaded this way regardless of our needs.

Q: What kind of problems do unskilled migrants present?A: (a) Slums were inconceivable in Goa but today several have takenroot: Sancoale, Chimbel, Margao, Betim, Ponda etc are established slumsand many others are in early stages. Migrants have been allowed toillegally usurp communidade land by politicians who use them as votebanks. (b) Slums have spawned severe problems of sanitation & health,put stress on limited infrastructure & resources, created law & orderissues. Religious & social differences with the incoming migrants maycreate strife in the years ahead. (c) Unskilled migrants bring undesirable expressions of civicconduct. Public defecation and urination are now widespread. Ourtowns, villages, gardens & public spaces have become fertile grounds formigrant loiterers. Illegal hawking is widespread on our beaches, on ourroads, in our villages. (d) Unscrupulous politicians have created vote banks out ofmigrants. Voter fraud is a blow to the basis of our electoral system.Migrants are issued voter cards at the behest of the local politicianwithin days of arrival without any background checks. This subversionof the fair electoral process will rapidly marginalize Goans. Already inthe village of Sancoale, votes of Goans are drowned out by migrant votes.

Q: Isn?t the solution proper law enforcement, holding officialsand politicians accountable?A: That is one part. The other part involves restricting entry andreducing the numbers of migrants. It is a matter of simple arithmetic.When you look at the numbers it is clear that we are facing ademographic tsunami. Our tiny Goan canoe will be swamped and sunk.

Q: What is your problem with the wealthy outsiders?A: Goa has become a fashionable destination with rich Indians andforeigners wanting to buy houses and land here. As a result, prices haveshot through the roof leaving the average Goan buyer helpless. Withlegions of non-Goans gobbling up prime real estate, the Goan runs therisk of being homeless in his own land.

Q: Do you have other issues with rich outsiders?A: Goa?s unique appeal lies in the marriage of its landscape with itspeople. Our cultural & religious traditions, language, lifestyle, habits -all these ingredients constitute our Goan Identity. The new richoutsiders view Goa as only prime seafront real estate, with no regard for,or understanding of, our traditions and our people. Large insular gatedcommunities are being developed for wealthy non-Goans. Foreignershave bought property in Goa, often circumventing the laws by formingfront companies. Russian of dubious credentials have dropped anchorand bought land. Many old Goan houses have been purchased by non-Goans. We got rid of one colonial power only to risk another round ofcolonization, this time by the moneybags.

Q: But many of these outsiders say they love Goa.A: If ?love of Goa? were the criterion employed, 98% of India wouldwant to move here. If you love Goa, come spend a week here in a hotel ofyour choice and then go back.

Q: Aren?t you being xenophobic?A: Not at all. Our tiny canoe is being swamped and we face disaster.Should we sit by passively while we sink? Change has to be gradual andorganic. What we are seeing right now is a virtual takeover of Goa.

Q: What are your prescriptions?A: a) Freeze all construction of residential projects and constructionon hills, and in CRZ zones. b) Investigate and reverse voter fraud. c) Step up law enforcement to deal with migrant loiterers, illegalhawking, and encroachment, and civic misdemeanors. d) Clear all slums. e) Ban sale of land to non-Goans. f) Demand special status for Goa within the framework of theIndian Union.

The photo documentary "The Rape of Goa" is now available for online viewing. You first need to install Apple's free Quicktime software or use any other software that plays the .mov format.Apple's Quicktime may be downloaded at http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download/